Question:hard

Consider the following compounds :
\( \text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2, (\text{C}_2\text{H}_5)_2\text{NH}, \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CH}_2\text{NH}_2, \text{NH}_3, \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2 \)
The correct increasing order of the above compounds on the basis of their basic strength is :

Show Hint

+I effect of alkyl groups increases basicity; -R/ -M effect of aromatic rings decreases basicity.
For ethyl substituted amines in water, the order is 2, 1, 3 (213).
For methyl substituted amines in water, the order is 2, 3, 1 (231).
Updated On: Jul 22, 2026
  • \( \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2 \lt \text{NH}_3 \lt \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CH}_2\text{NH}_2 \lt \text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2 \lt (\text{C}_2\text{H}_5)_2\text{NH} \)
  • \( \text{NH}_3 \lt \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2 \lt \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CH}_2\text{NH}_2 \lt \text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2 \lt (\text{C}_2\text{H}_5)_2\text{NH} \)
  • \( \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CH}_2\text{NH}_2 \lt (\text{C}_2\text{H}_5)_2\text{NH} \lt \text{NH}_3 \lt \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2 \lt \text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2 \)
  • \( \text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2 \lt \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2 \lt \text{NH}_3 \lt \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CH}_2\text{NH}_2 \lt (\text{C}_2\text{H}_5)_2\text{NH} \)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Group the five compounds by type.
We have one aromatic amine (aniline, $\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2$), ammonia ($\text{NH}_3$), one amine with the ring separated from nitrogen by a $-\text{CH}_2-$ (benzylamine), and two aliphatic ethylamines, $\text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2$ and $(\text{C}_2\text{H}_5)_2\text{NH}$.
Step 2: Place aniline at the bottom.
In aniline, the nitrogen lone pair spreads into the benzene ring by resonance, so it is far less available to accept a proton. This makes aniline the weakest base of the five, weaker even than ammonia, which has no such delocalisation.
Step 3: Place benzylamine above ammonia but below the ethylamines.
In benzylamine the nitrogen is not directly joined to the ring, so there is no resonance loss, and it is a stronger base than ammonia. But the ring is still one bond away and pulls electron density slightly, so it stays weaker than simple alkyl amines.
Step 4: Order the two ethylamines using the inductive effect.
Alkyl groups push electron density onto nitrogen through the inductive effect, and a second ethyl group pushes even more, so in water $(\text{C}_2\text{H}_5)_2\text{NH}$ is a stronger base than $\text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2$. Putting the five together from weakest to strongest: \[ \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2 < \text{NH}_3 < \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CH}_2\text{NH}_2 < \text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2 < (\text{C}_2\text{H}_5)_2\text{NH} \]
\[ \boxed{\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2 < \text{NH}_3 < \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CH}_2\text{NH}_2 < \text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{NH}_2 < (\text{C}_2\text{H}_5)_2\text{NH}} \]
Was this answer helpful?
0